Jane Austen July 2025 discussion
2021
>
Mansfield Park Readalong (SPOILER FREE/in time with schedule)
OK, let the RAL begin. This will be my first time to read this one,
Mine too Donna! I am hoping to get my chapters read this morning before work interferes with my day!
It’s my first time reading Mansfield Park too! Excited to get started.
I started reading last night and I'm loving it so far!
First chapter read and Mrs Norris makes me chuckle.
Just finished all 3 chapters for today; I'm really enjoying it so far.
I am done with the three chapters and really annotated a lot with just those chapters, haha. And this reread just made me realized how adorable Edmund was when he was young! Really a kind-hearted cinnamon roll.
First chapter and I'm gaving hard time figuring out who's who. I might need to make notes on relations and such. Unnecessary to say this is my first time reading Mansfield Park... or Jane Austen in general.
salainenkirjahylly wrote: "First chapter and I'm gaving hard time figuring out who's who. I might need to make notes on relations and such. Unnecessary to say this is my first time reading Mansfield Park... or Jane Austen in..."
I had the same problem so I mapped the characters out and now I fully understand the relationships.
I had the same problem so I mapped the characters out and now I fully understand the relationships.
salainenkirjahylly wrote: "First chapter and I'm gaving hard time figuring out who's who. I might need to make notes on relations and such. Unnecessary to say this is my first time reading Mansfield Park... or Jane Austen in..."I'm having the same trouble! i had to go back to the first pages that introduced characters a few times!
I have a few items ticked in the bingo already!
I Just finished the third chapter and I'm loving Edmond and Fanny's relationship. He sees that she needs love and attention in a her own subtle way and he gives that to her naturally. He's the only person I can stand in this family!And I must say I resonate with Fanny so much, specially when i think about my childhood.
Not only is this my first time to read Mansfield Park but it is my first Jane Austen book. I too am making a character list so I can figure out who's who. So glad to have a group to read along with.
I am soooo suprised how easy this is to read after I made my notes about all the charecters that is.I love Fanny and Edmund. I just hope he wasn't just being nice to her and breaks her heart, bs she's so precious and humble and I wish her all the best! Then again all the other charecters...
I'm so happy to be revisiting Mansfield Park that I've got carried away and listened as far as Chapter Five. It's such a delight.I've been thinking a bit about Mrs Norris and I'm wondering whether part of her character flaws grow out of jealousy? She doesn't have children herself, so her angry reflections on her sister "having got another baby" might be a kind of envy, and when she talks about Mrs Grant, she seems to be comparing her to herself in talking about the fortune that she had (something like "had never had more than £5000) - Mrs Norris' own dowry was not stated but her sister had £7000. It also talks about her having been obliged to settle for Mr Norris after having hoped for a better match. Little things like that could have built up and made her more vindictive and unpleasant over time.
I have seen the movie many times and love it. This is the first time I have read the book though. So far I'm loving it.
Have read the chapters for today. Fanny is an interesting character and I really felt for her. Edmund is the only nice one in the family, so far. Lady B and her pug are sure to be funny. It’s my first time reading this book and I’m interested to see where it goes.
So I finished the first three chapters and I have to say that it is very enjoyable. I love how the family dynamics is similar to Jane's family with similar experiences. Excellent so far!
I find good old Wikipedia invaluable in sorting out who the characters are. I often print a character list when reading the classics So much help
I've gotten through chapter 5. I'm so surprised that Fanny isn't liked by everyone. I just want to protect her and comfort her when she comes as a little girl. Edmund is so sweet. I love how he thinks ab!out Fanny needing a horse and helping her write a letter. So sweet! The conversation between Mrs. Norris and Julia and Maria was so funny about how dumb they think Fanny is. Austen is so savage to them about their lack of self-knowledge, genorosity, and humility. I laughed out loud and why I love Jane Austen so much!
Is it strange that I am not connecting with the story? In the same fashion that Austen usually conforms too, I feel thrusted into the story and this time It’s not sticking. Maybe it’s like this with every Austen novel. This is my 3rd.
For those having a bit of difficulty imagining the characters and sorting them out, I find it helps to watch the movie first. I know, I know... many have an aversion to watching screen adaptations before they read the actual book... but it does help. And having done so myself, I can assure you the book reveals more details to discover.
I really don't like Fanny's aunt Mrs. Norris. She is so inconsiderate to Fannie. I see her using Fanny to make herself feel better about herself. I picture her thinking "see me, see me. I'm helping the poor, NOT.
I’m reading Mansfield Park again after a few years. I’m noticing things I didn’t catch before. For example, how Fanny Price’s Aunt would prefer to live alone. And how it’s considered important for Fanny Price to have a horse (ch 4). The part about “An engaged woman is always more agreeable...” (ch 5) made me pause to reflect on what I’ve read so far and to think briefly about all of Jane Austen’s books. Jane Austen was so observant and detailed in her understanding of people, families, friends, young and old, rich and poor, married, single, engaged, and all such relationships. I would add even more but then Id be skipping ahead. I find Jane Austen’s insight quite remarkable, relatable and even relevant to this day. So far I am enjoying Mansfield Park even more than I did the last time I read it.
I just finished Chapter 9. Don’t laugh (pun intended!) but what is a “ha-ha?” It’s mentioned towards the end of the chapter... “They would go to one end of it, in the line they were then in (for there was a straight green walk along the bottom by the side of the ha-ha).”
Bonnie wrote: "I just finished Chapter 9. Don’t laugh (pun intended!) but what is a “ha-ha?” It’s mentioned towards the end of the chapter... “They would go to one end of it, in the line they were then in (for th..." I only know this because I looked it up after reading an Anthony Trollope book, but it's a type of fence. It is like a recessed hole in order to create a barrier but not disturbing the landscaping, basically a type of trench. That's why they mention trying not to fall in and being aware of it.
Thank you Lauren! Now I grasp what a “ha-ha is! I thought I heard it mentioned before in another book but couldn’t recall what book or the author. That makes sense about how it got the funny name ha-ha! I will be sure to remember it from from your excellent description!
Mrs. Norris is such a horrible horrible person. So cruel to Fanny. I just want to jump in to scold her and put HER in her place. Thank goodness Edmund is there to buffer the insensitivity and cruelty towards shy Fanny.
Bonnie, I decided to Google ha-ha and came up thHa-haImages











View all
Description
Bonnie, Google to the rescue.. A ha-ha is a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier while preserving an uninterrupted view of the landscape beyond. The design includes a turfed incline that slopes downward to a sharply vertical face. Wikipedia A photograph on Wikipedia makes better sense.
Thank you Donna! I will have a look to see what a ha-ha looks like. I will watch another version Mansfield Park movie after finishing the book too and keep an eye open for the ha-ha, so I don’t I fall in of course!
I feel like I’ve really got in to the book now and don’t want to put it down after the days chapters! Always a good sign. The Crawfords are so interfering, can’t help but feel like they are going to stir everything up and cause trouble.
It’s my first reading of this and I’m only at chapter 7 (I’ll catch up to y’all tomorrow) but so far it’s been a very pleasant departure from most of the 19th century literature I tend to read. So much more than a pretty 22 year old woman seeking a husband and taking lovely walks. It’s very refreshing and smart and relatable. Relatable to any time period. And any class.
So I am a little behind in the reading because of the 4th of July holiday fun. I love Jane's use of sarcasm and hilarious comedy. Her stories are so much fun.
I'm really enjoying the book so far but I'm also weirdly stressed about what's to come!! :') Anyway, the first few chapters gave me strong Cinderella vibes which is not something I ever thought I'd say about a Jane Austen book! I'm really excited to see where it'll go (even as I'm dreading it.....). It was so interesting to read about an Austen heroine as a child, too :))
Tilly wrote: "I'm so happy to be revisiting Mansfield Park that I've got carried away and listened as far as Chapter Five. It's such a delight.I've been thinking a bit about Mrs Norris and I'm wondering wheth..."
Really interesting thoughts about the development of Mrs. Norris's character. I think there is definitely something in it.
Bonnie wrote: "Thank you Lauren! Now I grasp what a “ha-ha is! I thought I heard it mentioned before in another book but couldn’t recall what book or the author. That makes sense about how it got the funny name h..."Lauren Garcia wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "I just finished Chapter 9. Don’t laugh (pun intended!) but what is a “ha-ha?” It’s mentioned towards the end of the chapter... “They would go to one end of it, in the line they were ..."
Lauren is correct and I will only add a few words to it.
The ha-ha is a very significant and also quite an important feature of English Landscape gardening, and it was meant to prevent farm animals like sheep, who look so enchanting in the landscape when viewed from afar, from coming onto the garden area, and spoiling it.
It prevented the need of a fence which would have spoiled the long range vistas from the garden, but still prevented the animals moving on to the same garden.
With the ha-ha dropping down like a sheer, steep cliff on the garden side, the farm animals could not climb up on it to the garden. The glade like other side of the ha-ha however allowed the animals to wander back to the further fields. This prevented the valuable livestock getting injured, which would have happened if the ha-ha had been a ditch, and had two steep sides.
So this was a brilliant solution - because letting farm animals get injured for the sake of a good view, would hardly have made financial sense and was therefore impractical.
This way, the view of the charming bucolic landscape from the garden was completely uninterupted, while keeping the garden pristine, and the livestock safe.
Renuka wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Thank you Lauren! Now I grasp what a “ha-ha is! I thought I heard it mentioned before in another book but couldn’t recall what book or the author. That makes sense about how it got t..." Thanks for your expansion, Renuka!
An excellent description of a ha ha! Thank you for that. I’ve finally caught up in my chapters on this one and at a great point in the book. I’m very much into the story and characters. It’s a crime that I’ve not read more JA. I definitely need to sort that out.
Wow. I read this book a year ago, but I thought it was one of Austen's weakest novel. This time, I read the book 2-3 chapters a day, until I was enjoying it so much, that I couldnt continue the little amounts of readig, and finished it today.
Amazing. I loved everything. Reading it again made it one of my favourites.
amazing story, amazing characters.
Bonnie wrote: "For those having a bit of difficulty imagining the characters and sorting them out, I find it helps to watch the movie first. I know, I know... many have an aversion to watching screen adaptations ..."Miss Norris is horrible but Jane Austen writes her so well. She hates to be wrong, does not like Fanny, but can't stand up to the father. She can't go that far. Aloha
This is my first read of Mansfield Park. I’m quite enjoying it, but am so pleased to be past the chapters revolving around the play! Even though they gave further insight into the characters I found it to be a slog. So pleased that the baronet arrived home early! Am I alone in this?
Jan wrote: "This is my first read of Mansfield Park. I’m quite enjoying it, but am so pleased to be past the chapters revolving around the play! Even though they gave further insight into the characters I foun..."Agree! I've read MP multiple times, and the play is the least favorite part for me, too. Some say that by reading the actual play "Lover's Vows", it provides a better understanding of what Austen is trying to do with the characters, but I don't think I'd be able to make it through to the end of the play!
So I didn't get to read yesterday but caught up today with Mansfield Park. I don't really have anything new to add today. I know I am enjoying it better than the movies. I like Sir Thomas much better now that he is home from Antigua. I am glad the Crawfords left.
Jan wrote: "This is my first read of Mansfield Park. I’m quite enjoying it, but am so pleased to be past the chapters revolving around the play! Even though they gave further insight into the characters I foun..."I am completely with you there, Jan. I felt like i was missing something, especially in the different characters from the play and making it such a big deal that Fanny didn't want to participate. But it didn't help me enjoy it much more. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has more insight about this portion of the book.
Kathy wrote: "Jan wrote: "Some say that by reading the actual play "Lover's Vows", it provides a better understanding of what Austen is trying to do with the characters, but I don't think I'd be able to make it through to the end of the play!"Try listening to the librivox audio dramatization of the play. It's available on youtube and it's only 2 hours of your time. It's a silly play but it really provides insight into some of the MP characters.
I listened to this dramatisation: https://youtu.be/3hJbylEMSXA
The voice actor reading for Anhalt (Edmund) is terrible, the rest is much better, Amelia (Miss Crawford) is great.
The play part is based on Jane Austen's childhood. She didn't like her siblings doing them or trying to make her do them, especially since her one brother used them as cover for his flirting with an older woman who may have been married. She teases her brother a lot about some of it in her juvenilia.
Thank you Rebecca for the insight into Jane Austen’s reasons for including the play. This is just my second Austen novel so I have much to learn.
Zuzana, I appreciate the link to the play.
This discussion board is for talking about the book as we go - so, feel free to discuss what's happened in the chapters assigned for the day on which you're posting, or before, but PLEASE be considerate to other readers and avoid spoilers if you've already read this novel or are reading ahead of the schedule. I will delete any posts that I think might spoil the novel for new readers.
Our schedule:
Mansfield Park, 1st to 21st July
1st July: chapters 1, 2, 3
2nd July: chapters 4, 5
3rd July: chapters 6, 7, 8
4th July: chapters 9, 10
5th July: chapters 11, 12
6th July: chapters 13, 14
7th July: chapters 15, 16
8th July: chapters 17, 18
9th July: chapters 19, 20
10th July: chapters 21, 22, 23
11th July: chapters 24. 25
12th July: chapters 26, 27
13th July: chapters 28, 29
14th July: chapters 30, 31
15th July: chapters 32, 33
16th July: chapters 34, 35
17th July: chapters 36, 37, 38
18th July: chapters 39, 40
19th July: chapters 41, 42
20th July: chapters 43, 44, 45
21st July: chapters 46, 47, 48